Skyhook Strengthens 2026 Golden Eagle Claims with Dominant Shannon Stakes Victory

Source: https://www.races.com.au/

Progressive four-year-old Skyhook further enhanced his reputation as one of Australia’s most exciting middle-distance prospects with an impressive victory in Saturday’s Group 2 $300,000 Shannon Stakes (1500m) at Rosehill, delivering a dominant display that has connections dreaming of a lucrative tilt at the $10 million Golden Eagle later this spring.

2026 Shannon Stakes winner Skyhook has the $10 million Golden Eagle in sight. Photo: Bradley Photos.

The Gerald Ryan & Sterling Alexiou-trained son of Written Tycoon justified his status as the $1.50 odds-on favourite, producing another polished performance under veteran jockey Kerrin McEvoy to defeat Estadio Mestalla ($10) by three lengths, with dual Group 1 performer Private Eye ($4.80) a long neck away in third.

Stopping the clock in 1:28.58 and sprinting home in a slick 33.50 seconds for his final 600m, Skyhook continued his outstanding campaign after earlier victories in the Theo Marks Stakes, Gunsynd Classic, and Hawkesbury Guineas, taking his record to six wins from 15 starts and pushing his earnings beyond $1.1 million.

Ryan believes the talented gelding has elevated to another level this preparation and continues to improve with racing.

“I think he is getting better,” he said after the win.

“At the Gold Coast sales in June I spent a couple of weeks with him and I said I reckoned he was improving. Since he’s come back from his spell he’s gone to the next level.”

Ryan was particularly pleased by the horse’s versatility, a trait that has become a hallmark of Skyhook’s rapid rise through the grades.

“Dry tracks, wet tracks. Lead, sit back. Pretty bloody handy,” he said.

McEvoy rewarded that confidence with a positive front-running ride, taking advantage of a favourable draw before controlling the race from the front.

“I thought the topweight might lead and we’d take the sit, but Kerrin was confident we should put it to him and make them chase us because we’re still on our way up,” Ryan explained.

“My query was going from 1300m to 1500m second-up, but he’s coped with it and done it well.”

The trainer ruled out next week’s Epsom Handicap, instead confirming plans to freshen the horse ahead of a likely run in the Silver Eagle before tackling the rich Group 1 Golden Eagle (1500m) at Randwick on October 31.

“I’ll probably freshen him up a little bit and get some freshness back into his legs for the Silver Eagle,” Ryan said.

“The Golden Eagle is a different kettle of fish, but it’s a $10 million race over 1500 metres at Randwick.

“He’s in form and we’ll have a crack.”

Winning rider McEvoy was equally impressed by the performance, noting how well the lightly raced four-year-old continues to develop.

“He is going great,” he said.

“He was lovely and fresh and bouncy going to the start and he’s handling himself really well.

“He takes bad luck out of the equation, which is half the battle sometimes. He was able to make use of the good draw today.”

McEvoy added that Skyhook’s racing pattern gives him plenty of confidence when the pressure goes on.

“He’s a nice horse to ride. He relaxes and builds through his gears. It’s nice knowing you’ve always got a bit more underneath you.”

The Shannon Stakes victory was quickly reflected in futures betting markets, with Ladbrokes trimming Skyhook’s 2026 Golden Eagle odds from $15 into $11 following his dominant Rosehill success.